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{the work: Somehow, Someway}

Glenda St. Pierre, 64, spends her time going to doctors appointments, filling prescriptions, managing her own landscaping company, and driving back and forth from her mother’s home in Portland to her husband’s in Freeport. Glenda is the caretaker for both her mother, who is 100 years old, and her husband, who has advanced Parkinson’s.

One-hundred-year-old Verna Littlefield has lived on Munjoy Hill in Portland for over 70 years. She raised Glenda by herself after her husband died. She worked as a bookkeeper and sardine factory worker in order to support her daughter. A former marathon walker, Verna claims that walking is the secret to reaching 100. She still lives alone, but is in constant pain. Glenda helps her with groceries, paying the bills, and cleaning the house. “I don’t know what I would do without her,” says Verna, “Sometimes I don’t know what to do with her!”

Glenda’s husband, Richard St. Pierre, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and dementia more than 20 years ago. Glenda constantly monitors Dick to make sure he takes his pills four times a day. His disease is worsening and he no longer has the cognitive ability to communicate the way he used to. Glenda must now decide whether or not to take his driver’s license away.

Dick and Verna are dependant on Glenda for help with everyday tasks. “One’s my left hand and one’s my right,” Glenda says. “It has nothing to do whether it’s hard on anybody, it’s just the problems you face…God always brings me back, somehow, someway.”

Verna turned 100 on Feburary 7th, 2010. She says she isn’t afraid of death. “One minute I hope I die, the next minute I say, oh lord, don’t take me yet.”

Verna looks to see if Glenda has pulled in the driveway. She looks forwards to her daughter’s visits. Glenda visits more frequently after her mother’s fall this past February.

Glenda checks her husband’s pills. Dick and Glenda were married almost 20 years ago. He told her upfront that he had Parkinson’s when they met. When Glenda looks back on marrying her husband, she said that it wouldn’t have made any difference. “I’m not one to walk out on someone,” adding, “Somebody should have shot me. But let’s face it…love makes you do stupid things.”

Glenda and Dick leave for a therapy meeting to reassses Dick’s mental health. His Parkinson’s is getting worse and Glenda has to decide when to take his driver’s license away.

Dick fills his pill boxes for the week, Glenda’s usual task. Dick must take 7 pills four times per day, 11:00, 1:00, 4:00, and 7:00. His pills cost 88 dollars a month, most of which is covered by the Veteran’s Administration.

Glenda at the roller rink with friends. Glenda was 12 when she started roller skating. Her mother bought her a pair of skates to keep her out of trouble in high school. When she was 40 she won the National Roller Skating Competition in Nebraska. “It’s just like ice skating in the Olympics, but on wheels.” Skating for Glenda is a way to relax from the daily turmoil of caring for both her husband and her mother. “Its kinda like a reunion” she says about her friends, “they keep hollering at me to come back.” Glenda seems to be living two lives: the life of skating and the life of taking care of her mother and husband. “I’m a gemini, you know, the twins…appropriate because I’m almost living two dfferent lives.”

“She gets my groceries, she pays my bills, she helps me clean the house, what little she does,” Verna says, “I don’t know what I would do without her. Sometimes I don’t know what to do with her!”

For many years, Dick served in the army in New Jersey. He now recieves veteran benefits such as insurance and a monthly check (is this true…check with glenda). These benefits help Glenda pay for the care of her husband and her mother.

Glenda leaves her mother’s house in Munjoy Hill to go take care of her husband at her home in Freeport, Maine.

In between taking care of her husband and mother, Glenda runs her own landscaping business. “All of it is hard work,” she says, “just about the time I’m at the end of my ropes, there’s a strength that comes. And I know it comes from God, because it couldn’t come from me.”

Glenda goes to a funeral home to make burial arrangements for her mother. She decides on a turqouise urn to place Verna’s ashes. “I’ve come to do certain things in my life where you just take a deep breath,” Glenda says. She plans on being buried with her mother.

Glenda sleep in the living room at home. Dick has frequent hallucinations, nightmares, and howls during his sleep. Another part of the disease is dementia. “You can feel pretty deserted,” says Glenda, adding, “We all are mirrors and we all have closed doors.”

Twenty years ago, Dick went into surgery unable to control his motor skills. “He came out of surgery,” Glenda remebers, “and he shook no more.” The doctors placed electric nodes in his brain and chest that Dick regulates with a remote to control his movement.

Glenda came home after staying the night at her mother’s, talking to Dick’s brother for an hour about Dick’s condition, and was absolutely exhausted. After throwing the pizza in the oven, she tried to talk to Dick about money. The argument was frustrating and brought Glenda to tears. Dick doesn’t understand how to communicate during an argument and would forget what the argument was about half way through. The difficulties of being with Dick shows on Glenda’s face.

Glenda talks loudly into Verna’s ear, asking her mother about the name of her pet racoon. She remembers the name “Patches” instantly.

Dick and Glenda talk about replacing their roof. Italian subs for lunch.

Verna thanks Glenda for dinner. “Sometimes she forgets to eat,” Glenda says, “I sneak soda instead of water into her glass for a few extra calories.”

Glenda drives a tractor while landscaping. Her landscaping buisness grew out of her love for gardening.

About four days out of the week, Glenda spends the night at her mothers house. She sleeps in the living room with the television and light on to let her mom know that she is not alone. Glenda and Verna laugh about their matching jammies.

18. Dick reaches for his toothbrush. “You don’t know the dfference between Dick and the Parkinson’s,” Glenda says, “the disease is like a mask, it covers up personality and mixes with identity. It’s more than just shaking.”

About four days out of the week, Glenda spends the night at her mothers house. She sleeps in the living room with the television and light on to let her mom know that she is not alone.

Glenda helps Verna as she reaches for the gate. “It hurts to walk,” she says. I know, Mama, I know.” Glenda walks her mom to the car. “All in but the shoestrings!” As she drives, Glenda tells her mom to hold on. “I’m hanging on.” Literally, she was clenching the car door. (somewhere put the quote: “Sometimes my feet get going and I can’t stop.”